Compost got hot (finally)
posierosie_zone7a
5 years ago
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nicholsworth Z6 Indianapolis
5 years agoposierosie_zone7a
5 years agoRelated Discussions
Hot Compost Question
Comments (20).. Seems to me Kimmsr has a point. You gotta get the mix right. Can't ignore Lloyd though. A smaller volume makes everything harder vis-a-vis hot composting. In a smaller volume the mix is going to be more critical. I just assembled a bin for the first time without grass clippings. Just leaves and chipped sticks. 17 cu ft. Got 150 F for a very short while then 140 F for a day or so and then 130 F for another couple of days then into the 120s. Turned if after week adding grass clippings. Got a couple of days of 140 F and 130 F for the rest of the week. Just turned it again tonight in the rain. We'll see. I would expect the given mixture in a 1 cu yd to do something similar. I think the small size just hindered things some. I haven't worked with straw but something tells me it's made to be rot resistant. That tells me it will compost slowly. Couple Lloyd's experience with an observation supporting our fears plus the small volume and I think things are just going to go slower. Not a major disaster. It'll rot. Just not as fast nor as hot. to sense .....See MoreHot Composting and flooding rains
Comments (4)Why do you want leaf compost to heat up? Because it's faster? If the leaves were shredded, at least coarsely, there's a chance they are ready to decompose, but dry, whole leaves that have only been sitting around a few months probably need to leach a bit before they can really participate in active compost of any kind. Moisture rather than nitrogen is key. But hey, as hard as you're working, you will move up the schedule, and the rain probably improved the condition of your leaves. If I were you, I'd stop turning and let everything rot, and use the chicken manure you have left as a fertilizer. If you want to see some smoke, wait until the weather is warmer and mix those moist, limp leaves with an equal part fresh green grass clippings. Still, why you wanna work so hard? It's not like leaves are full of weed seeds... Here is a link that might be useful: my website...See MoreThe compost bin finally paid off
Comments (18)kioni, years ago, I dated someone who had that style of composter, and what we decided was best for the turning was to lift it off of the pile (since it's conical and open on the bottom), put it back down next to the pile, and re-load it with a shovel or pitchfork. That meant that the composter moved back and forth, but it wasn't too bad. We also tried something similar that involved knocking over the pile after removing the composter, so that you could put it back in its original location. You're right that getting the stuff to finish can be hard, and it's nearly impossible if you keep adding new scraps. I'm convinced that having 2 (or more) bins is the only way to go, so that one can finish while you still have someplace to add the new stuff. We were not faithful in layering our greens and browns, except on the rare occasion that we had a larger batch of stuff to put in (pretty rare indeed). I also figure that if you're going to turn it with any regularity, the stuff will get mixed up then. When I rebuild my new bins (it will be in the 50s tomorrow and the next day...so maybe then?), I'll have a bunch of leaves, yard waste, shaken out sod from the new garden bed, and a Winter's worth of kitchen scraps (the composter was full and at a dead halt, so we stockpiled the kitchen scraps in lidded buckets)...plus the stuff from the top of last year's pile that didn't do anything after the cold set in. So, this time I'll do some layering to get things started. For our new Spring compost, I will initially have more than one barrel worth of stuff, too (the sod alone is taking up most of a barrel), though that will change rapidly as soon as things start to break down. Once the big settling happens, I'll move all of it into one barrel, and actually let it finish off, while I use my other barrel for new additions. Or so goes the theory. :-)...See MoreFinally have a hot pile, how to mainatin
Comments (8)Congratulations, Rich! It's exciting, isn't it? If you built the pile yesterday and it was 110 by this morning, chances are good that it will be even higher tomorrow. Check it again then and you might be surprised. Add water to the top (AFTER taking the temp), esp the edges of the pile as needed to keep moist. In the heat/drought we're having here, mine can use a sprinkle daily. I never turn the pile (as long as it's not stinky) when it's above 100 or so. When the temp falls to the air temp, I flip the whole pile, adding water as necessary while building, then let it sit, and it will usually heat again to at least 110 or 120. When my husband cuts the grass, (or the rare event when a neighbor bags grass clippings), I add as much to the pile as possible, all at once. Same process, greens and browns and water. Grass clippings always get it cooking. Then I repeat the whole process. Works well for me. Good luck to you, Rich, and let us know how it goes for you. Your wintersown seedlings will thrive next year with all that good compost! A 60 degree morning sounds awfully nice. Can I come and visit? Our low tonight is going to be 78! Karen...See Moreposierosie_zone7a
5 years agoposierosie_zone7a
5 years agoposierosie_zone7a
5 years agoposierosie_zone7a
5 years ago
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